Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-07
MIR. GIBSON EXPLAINS
LETTER STATING HIS SIDE OF THE LATE
yr UNPLRASANTNHSS.
The Feeling Between Him and the Judgs-0ngin
Of the Difficulty y-COmnitisd and Fined
for Alleged Contempt Of COart-A
Purely Personal Natter.
Special YtleQram % the Reaiser.


Purely Personal Natter.
Special 7siegrdm 10 the Register.
WASHINGTON, September O. The REe-
IsTEI representative has received the fol-
lowing statement from Hon. Eustace Glib
son, in relation to his alleged contempt of
the Circuit Court of Cabell county. He
writes from Huntington and says:
SIT is well understood here that the
Judges action was from purely personal
motives.
In 1873 l received letters from clients
in Baltimore, Md, and Abingdon, Va,
asking me to take steps to dis
-bsr ....sIra--1.. .J.azs Mclaisnis, uss. thsn
practicing law in this county, for collecting
considerable sums of money for them while
practicing law in Abingdon, Va, aud run
ming away from there in the night time
with the money.
/ told Mr.. McGinnis of these letters, but
declined to have anything further to do
with the case than to advise him to settle
the claims as best he could. This he prom
ised to do (but has never to this day done),
saying he had lost the money at cards, of all
which / advised my clients.
From this time on he seemed to have
formed personal enmity to me; and some
years afterward, wheE l was candidate
for the Legislature, he undertook to run
against me and was disgracefully beaten
in the convention, getting only seven votes
out of sxty-three.
He then, for pay or money, sold himself
to the opposing candidate, and stumped
the county against me, the nominee Of
the convention.
Some years afterward, by expressions Of
repentance and promises to my friends, and
by reasons of there being numerous candi-
dates in the field, by accident rather than
by any merit of his, he succeeded in being
elected Judge Of this Circuit.
He was no sooner elected than he COM
menced a most brutal course of insolence
and lying poltroonery towards myself and
other members Of his bar, whom he dislik-
ed, forcing me repeatedly to rebuke him in
Court and denounce him out of court.
On Friday before the alleged contempt
in the Court House yard he got into q
quarrel with b. J. McCamas, prominent
attorney, who cursed him and threatened
to thresh him on the spot for language he
had used, To get out of this difficulty,
Mr.. McGinnis, within presence Of large
number of people, told Mr.. McCamas that
he did not mean his insulting language for
him, but for me.
was not in Court that day, and had
never had anything to do with the matter
in controversy.
On Tuesday following went to Court,
and on arising to make motion, was
greeted with some of his usual insOlence,
for which | promptly rebuked him, to
which he submitted .siiently. nfterward,
on the recess Of Court, in the presence Of
the same people before whom he spoke OF
me on Friday, in the Court House var
and in his presence, bitterly denounced
him for what he said to Mr.. McCamas.
Too cowardly to resent it, he went into the
Court House, commenced his Court, and,
without any notice to me and in my alb
sence, inquired Of some gentleman what /
had said, but no statement Of theirs was ever
reduced to writing. nor do know to this
day what they said.
He then issued rule, returnahle on the
next day. promptly answered that rule,
asked for an issue, and proposed to prove
the facts stated in my answer.
He thereupon abandoned proceedings on
his rule, and handed me specifications Of
charges referring to things had
said about him as candi-
date for reelection, and to expressions he
alleged | had used in arguing case in his
his Court several weeks before. He re.
fused 10 hold any trial, refused TO hear any
evidence, saying that had insulted the
Court and jury in open Court. This he
knew was palpable lie, and would be 50
proven by all the jurors and members OF
the bar, therefore he would allow no trial,
but sentenced me to ten days confinement
in jail and to pay fine of fifty dollars.
From this order appealed and prepared
q bill Of exceptions, asking the usual
suspension until o Judge Of the Court OF
Appeals could pass upon an application for
a wit of error. He signed the bill of ex-
ceptions a. being correct, but refused 10
suspend sentence and directed the jailor 10
''take Mr.. Gibson to Jail and treat him
Immediately had copy Of the record
made, and member Of the bar started that
night to the home Of Judge Snyder, Of the
Supreme Court Of this State, who, the next
morning, promptly granted the writ Of er-
TOR and ordered my release without requir-
ing the usual bond.
Mr.. McGinnis, knowing that this applir
cation had been made 70 Judge Snyder,
and being demonstrated with by his entire
har, on the next morning, before Judge
Suyder's telegram ordering my release was
received, without my knowledge or request,
himself ordered my release.
Mr.. Mcainnis is an announced candi.
date for re. election, and have, az has the
| entire bars In his circuit with one excep-
ton, opposed him on his candidacy, and
stated on one occasion, two months ago, in
a public speech in the city Of Huntington,
that "he was too ignorant for the position
and as dishonest as he was ignosant."
This was one Of his specifications Of con-
tempt
desire to add that my friends may rely
upon it that when this case comes on TO be
heard, as heard il will be, will show Ira
J. McGinnis to be dishonest and coward
ly man, and brutal and insoleu. Judge.
kUsTACE GIBSON.
INCORPORATION CERTIFICATES